The Sagas of Icelanders are easily some of the most important surviving medieval texts. A lot of what we know about the Vikings has come from the sagas. The discovery of North America, the settlement of Iceland, and the cradle of parliamentary democracy are just a few of the important moments contained in these stories. Many of the dramatic scenes mentioned happened at identifiable locations; sites and places you can visit while touring Iceland. I highlight a few of the sagas and show how events in these narratives are linked to specific locations on the landscape. By visiting these landmarks you can not only learn more about Viking Icelanders, but also get a glimpse of the medieval world through their eyes. attributed
- Ricky Menzies
- Last Checked and/or Updated 14 January 2025
- Iceland
The Sagas of Icelanders, or Íslendingasögur, are a corpus of medieval texts written in the 13th and 14th centuries preserved in manuscripts. Although not written by people living during the Viking Age, that credit goes to Christian scribes, these stories are about Icelanders living between the 9th and 11th centuries. These narratives outline the interfamily feuds of Icelandic ancestors, many of whom were Vikings, poets and explorers. Often described as the first historical novels, these suspenseful stories are masterpieces for their time. Reading the sagas it becomes clear that the landscape in Iceland plays a vital role in the narrative of Viking Age people. If you have an interest in the history of the Norsemen, I encourage you to read these fascinating accounts and get to know these legendary characters and the land they lived in.
When visiting Iceland, head first to the Saga Museum. Here, visitors get the chance to learn the broad strokes of these intricate stories through waxwork displays of important scenes from the sagas. With a basic understanding of what the Icelandic Sagas are, then head to the World in Words Manuscript Exhibition. This recently opened permanent exhibition at the the Árni Magnússon Institute has a number of the medieval manuscripts on display. Here you will be able to appreciate in more detail the world of the Sagas, what we have learned from these manuscripts, as well as how they were made. While these are two outstanding attractions to start exploring the Sagas, to really understand the stories, one must venture beyond Reykjavik.
Often told with fantastical elements and exaggeration, blended with brutal realism, scholars have debated their veracity for centuries. Whether these were works of literature by Christian scholars or an oral tradition of a pre-literate society captured in written form may never be settled. What is beyond doubt is their importance to the historical record; the authors of these works used real places to ground these stories in reality. This made the sagas both believable and relatable. When visiting Iceland I urge you to pay close attention to place names.
Some of the more frequently asked questions about the Sagas
What are the Sagas in Icelandic?
The Sagas of Icelanders or Íslendingasögur in Icelandic are a subset of medieval prose narratives mainly written in the 13th and 14th centuries. The word ‘saga’ (pl. sögur) means both ‘story’ and ‘history’ in Icelandic.
What are the Icelandic Sagas called?
The Icelandic Sagas can be split into six broad categories; The Sagas of Icelanders (Íslendingasögur) which comprise of two forms; Family sagas and Regional sagas, The Kings’ Sagas (konungasögur), The Legendary Sagas (fornaldarsögur), the Chivalric Sagas (riddarasögur) or translated works, the Sagas of Saints and Bishops (heilagra manna sögur and biskupa sögur), and the Contemporary Sagas (samtíðarsögur or samtímasögur).
What is the most famous saga?
Brennu-Njals saga (the saga of Burnt Njall or simply Njal’s saga) is the most popular saga. It has been copied many times in manuscripts and has been regarded by scholars as the pinnacle of saga writing due to its complexity and mastery of narrative style and conventions.
Where can I read the Icelandic Sagas?
Many of The Icelandic Sagas have been translated by various scholars over the years. The most accessible of these are the Penguin editions which are often used as introductions to the Sagas in English speaking schools and universities. For those wanting to read the Sagas in Old Icelandic in a formalised orthography, Íslenzk Fornrit is the go to resource for scholars. While the Icelandic Saga Database is an online resource that offers the sagas in many different languages.
Which Saga should I start with?
Njal’s saga is often recommended as the best saga. However, it is also the longest and most complex. On the other hand, Hrafnkels saga is a far shorter saga and more straightforward. Grettis saga is very popular and arguably the most cinematic. Laxdæla saga is particularly
interesting for its inclusion of strong female characters. There is no accepted grand narrative or chronological order in saga literature, therefore you do not need to start from the oldest.
How many sagas are there?
There are around 40 Icelandic sagas across the six different genres. They are preserved in manuscripts of many different kinds and dates. The texts we read now are usually a patchwork of the different versions of the same story across the different manuscripts
available. Usually the oldest manuscripts are damaged, therefore, do not preserve the entire text. Consequently, a scholarly debate on definitive versions of the Sagas is in constant flow.
What are classic sagas called?
The Sagas of Icelanders (Íslendingasögur) are regarded as the classical form of the saga genre in Iceland. Examples include Egil’s saga, Laxdæla saga, Grettis saga, and Njal’s saga to name a few.
When were the Sagas written?
The majority of the Icelandic Sagas across the six genres were written between 1190 and 1320. Many of the Sagas deal with events that happened before this and therefore the reliability of the Sagas has been questioned.
Are the Icelandic Sagas worth reading?
The answer to this depends on many factors. For those interested in medieval history and archaeology, these are fantastic and uniquely important sources about medieval Scandinavia and Iceland. Equally, these sources have informed historians and archaeologists much of what we know about the Viking Age.
These narratives may also be worth reading for those who enjoy historical fiction. Some scholars have argued that rather than works of history, the Sagas, particularly the Sagas of Icelanders were more akin to historical novels.
What language are the Sagas written in?
The Icelandic Sagas were written in Old Icelandic. This language comes under the blanket term ‘Old Norse’, which describes the vernacular language of the Scandinavian Middle Ages.
How accurate are the Sagas?
The veracity of the Sagas has been a subject of debate for centuries. In older scholarship, the Sagas were widely regarded as pure historical fiction, perhaps based loosely on real events. However, discourse has become far more nuanced in recent years with some scholars such as Jesse Byock using archaeology to give the Sagas more weight in reality.
Origins of the Icelandic Sagas
The authors of the sagas are largely unknown. There is one name, however, that may be attached to some of the most important works we have. That name is Snorri Sturluson. Although not sagas, two crucial works are explicitly attributed to him: the Prose Edda and Heimskringla (The Saga of the Kings of Norway). For this reason, readers of Viking history should seriously consider taking a pilgrimage to Reykholt, Snorri’s home. Here visitors will have the pleasure of immersing themselves in an exhibition dedicated to Snorri’s life and works. Snorri’s geothermal pool and the passageway that led to his house is also preserved on the site. Information about the excavation of Reykholt is displayed at the exhibition.
Although Snorri is mainly known for his Prose Edda and Heimskringla, it has been argued by literary scholars and historians that one Íslendingasaga may have been written by Snorri. Namely, The Saga of Egill Skallagrímsson. Egil’s Saga is thought to be one of the oldest of the Íslendingasögur. It follows the life of Egil, a fierce Viking, poet, and sorcerer. It begins, like many sagas, with the protagonist’s ancestors. His father happened to be one of the earliest settlers of Iceland in the 870s AD. Skallagrim Kveldúlfsson settled the area of Borg after he and his father escaped Norway and the tyranny of King Harald Finehair.
The story goes that Skallagrim’s elderly father, Kveldulf (Night Wolf), died on the crossing to Iceland. He was buried at sea in a coffin. Skallagrim announced that wherever the coffin washed ashore is where he would settle the land. This settlement is believed by historians to be located at Borg á Mýrum, west of the town Borgarnes. Visitors to this location can follow a 5.26km trail of 9 cairns that ends at Einkunnir. The cairns follow sites mentioned in Egil’s saga, including the approximate location where Kveldulf’s coffin washed ashore and the grave mound of Skallagrim. Borgarnes offers a double exhibition at The Settlement Centre (Landnámssetrið). One is dedicated to the settlement of Iceland and the establishment of the Althing. While the other focuses on the life and times of Egil.
Some of Egil’s most notable adventures include his visit to the British Isles as a mercenary Viking, his feuds with the King of Norway, his composition of skaldic poetry, his use of rune magic, his many fights with other warriors, and the tragedies felt in his final years in Iceland. In many ways, Egil’s Saga is rather unique. Unlike many later saga heroes, he lives a long and storied life and dies not a bloody and violent death, but rather a peaceful death of old age.
Interestingly, many characters in this saga are well established in history and the archaeological record, making this saga more plausible. One example is his feud with Viking King Erik Bloodaxe. Erik is one of the only Viking kings from around this period we have reliable archaeological proof of his existence. This is in the form of a coin minted in York, now displayed at the British Museum.
As for the archaeological proof for Egil himself, there is very little. As you return to Reykjavik from Borg in the west, the astute observer may recognise an important location towards the end of Egil’s Saga: Mosfellsbær. This is where Egil spent his final days. A pirate to the bitter end, one of his last requests was to be taken to the Althing. His intention was to throw a large sum of silver coins into the crowds just to watch them fight over it. His daughter talked him out of it and so instead Egil buried his treasure in an unknown location somewhere in Mosfell. To this day it has not been recovered.
Egil died in Mosfell and was buried in a mound. After Iceland’s conversion to Christianity in 1000 AD, Egil’s bones were supposedly moved to a church in Hrísbrú. Later when the church was demolished, bones that were much larger than normal were found under the altar and were thought to be Egil. They were then moved to a new church built elsewhere.
Inspired by this description in the saga, archaeologist Jesse Byock set out to excavate the remains of the church in Hrísbrú. To everyone’s surprise he not only located a church and a burial ground, he uncovered a grave that would match the location of the altar. This monumental discovery caused a riot of discourse and a re-examination of the sagas as evidence. A visit to Mosfell will always be rewarding, and there are many hiking trails up the Mosfell mountain. One particular trail will take you past the Hrísbrú farm where, on a clear day, you might be able to spot obvious signs of the site and excavation. A keen eye should look out for a ship-shaped hill which is where the Long House was discovered and excavated. From that, one can appreciate the full extent of the valley giving context to the settlement as a whole.
Reading the Icelandic Sagas
The Sagas of the Icelanders. A Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition, with an introduction by Jane Smiley (2001) – Available on Amazon
Or buy them individually:
Njal’s Saga by Robert Cook – Available on Amazon, Bookshop UK
Egil’s saga by Bernard Scudder – Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Bookshop UK
The Saga of the People of Laxardal and Bolli Bollason’s Tale by Keneva Kunz – Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Bookshop UK
The Vinland Sagas by Keneva Kunz – Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org, Bookshop UK
The Saga of Grettr the Strong by Bernard Scudder – Amazon, Bookshop.org
Book on manuscripts:
The Manuscripts of Iceland by Vesteinn Olason – Available on Amazon
General overview of Medieval history in Iceland:
Medieval Iceland: Society, Sagas, and Power by Jesse Byock – Available on Amazon, Bookshop.org
Learning old Norse:
Viking Language by Jesse Byock – Available on Amazon
Please note: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
A Saga Masterpiece
Egil’s saga is only one of forty sagas preserved in the manuscripts. Although there is no agreement as to the order in date they were written, we can tell the popularity of certain sagas based on the frequency they were copied. Brennu-Njáls saga, or the Saga of Burnt Njál, is by far the most popular, and for scholars, the pinnacle of saga literature. It also happens to be the longest of the Íslendingasögur. Mainly set in the south of Iceland, it was likely written in the mid-13th century. It describes events from between 960 to 1020 AD, and many key events and places are featured in this story.
Njáll Þorgeirsson was a chieftain, specialist in law and a seer. The majority of his story revolves around a blood feud between his wife and the wife of his friend Gunnar Hámundarson. Many scenes play out at the Althing at Thingvellir, a site that should be top of everyone’s list to visit when coming to Iceland. Gunnar’s wife, Hallgerðr Langbrók may be one of the most controversial women in saga literature. Prideful and strong willed, she has stirred readers of the sagas for centuries with her actions, especially her final revenge against Gunnar when he needed her the most.
Gunnar lived at Hliðarend in Fljótshlíð, which is now the location of a 19th century church. It is dedicated to Iceland’s most famous saint, Þorlákur of Skálholt. From here, it is not a long journey to Bergþórshvoll, home of Njáll and Bergþóra. It is from the tragic events at this location that the saga got it’s name. The feud between Bergþóra and Hallgerðr resulted in the burning of Njáll and his family in his home. Interestingly, excavations that took place at this site in the 19th and early 20th century revealed around 800 artefacts from 50 structures dating from the Viking age to modern times. No evidence of a farm fire was found until 1951 when the remains of what may have been a Viking age cowshed was found. While in the area, the house of Ingjaldur Höskuldsson, a person mentioned in Njál’s saga is located at Keldur. The main building dates back to the 11th century and is Iceland’s oldest house. The turf house farm is a popular destination for travellers through Iceland and well worth a visit.
There are plenty more sites to visit in the south of Iceland (check the map of saga sites below for ideas). For those who want to see something different, the Saga Centre in Hvolsvöllur, located at the Valhalla restaurant, offers a glimpse into the cultural impact of Njál’s saga. Here, a small exhibition dedicated to Njál can be found. The centrepiece of this display is a 90m long and 50cm wide tapestry that depicts scenes from the saga. This was created by the community around the area and claims to be the longest tapestry in the world.
Extraordinary Women of the Viking Age
There has been considerable debate about the role of women during the Viking Age. Readers of the sagas will be able to identify several strong female characters with considerable influence in the narrative. The most notable of these saga women is Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir from Laxdœla saga. The story spans more than three generations, often following the male characters, cousins/best friends; Kjartan Ólafsson and Bolli Þorleiksson. Despite this, it has been argued by literary scholars the real protagonist is in fact Guðrún. It has even been suggested that this particular saga could have been written or composed by a group of women. Understandably so given this saga also contains one of the other most important women in the Icelandic Sagas, Unnr the Deep-Minded.
Guðrún was born and raised in the Laugar í Sælingsdal in the county of Dala. It is here visitors can find Guðrúnarlaug, a reconstructed geothermal bath said to be owned by Guðrún. It is located near a hotel and campsite and visitors are allowed to take a dip in the pool if they wish. The central drama of this saga is the love triangle between Kjartan, Bolli and Guðrún. This meets a tragic climax when Guðrún convinces Bolli to kill Kjartan in revenge for him marrying another woman. Bolli’s ambush took place in a canyon called Hafragil, not far from the road to Guðrúnarlaug. Visitors to this site can spot the stone Kjartan was killed at and can imagine the scene playing out before them. Be aware this site has no parking places and is located on the side of a main road. You will need to cross a small river to reach the stone and the terrain is moderately difficult.
The complexity of this saga can be seen in the multi-generational narrative that starts with Ketill Flatnose, father of Unnr the Deep-Minded. Unnr, or Auðr as she is called in other sagas, is a prominent saga character. She is mentioned in Landnámabók (the book of land taking), one of the earliest records of the settlement of Iceland. She is also a key character in Njál’s saga, Eyrbyggja saga, Eirík’s saga and Grettis saga. Unnr’s story is a long and fascinating one, and can be appreciated through a wide reading of the sagas. Originally a Norwegian, she married Olaf the White, who became king of Dublin. After his death, she and her son, Thorstein the Red moved to the Hebrides. Thorstein who would later be killed in Scotland, married and had five daughters and one son. After Thorstein’s death, Unnr captained a ship from Caithness in Scotland to Iceland where she settled. She claimed the Dala region for her family, and freed the slaves she had brought with her. The sources are conflicted on her religious status, but it is generally accepted she was baptised as a Christian. A cross erected in 1965 in her honour on Krosshólaborg can be visited. It is said she came here to pray.
While in the area, you can also visit Hvammur í Dölum and it’s church. This is where Unnr lived according to Landnámabók, along with some other notable names of later generations such as Sturla Þórðarson and Snorri Sturluson.
According to Laxdœla saga, Unnr died in her bed sitting upright (a convention usually given to kings who die on their thrones). She was given a ship burial in a mound. An alternative suggestion is that she was buried somewhere in the tidal zone due to the lack of consecrated ground. Neither grave has been found. Guðrún’s last days were spent as a Christian. So strong was her faith, her tears scolded the bones of a witch buried nearby. Close to her dying day, her son asked her, out of the four husbands she had married, which did she love the most. Her reply is one of the most famous lines in saga literature, “þeim var ek verst, er ek unni mest” – “I treated the worst, who I loved the best.”
A memorial grave to Guðrún is located on the farm at the church at Helgafell, near Stykkisholmur. Legend has it, if you walk from the grave to the top of the hill in silence while never looking back, the walker is granted three wishes.
Viking Explorers and Adventurers
The deeds of the Icelanders often go beyond Iceland itself. In fact, a rite of passage for many of the early Icelanders was to go abroad to win renown. Some scholars have interpreted this as the true meaning of the term ‘Viking’, although no consensus has ever been reached. What we can be certain of, however, is the thirst for adventure and travel exhibited by the Norsemen. No saga exemplifies this mentality more than what has been collectively named the Vinland Sagas.
The Vinland Sagas comprise of two very important sagas, the Saga of Erik the Red and the Saga of the Greenlanders. Both outline the story of the discovery of North America, albeit in contradictory ways. These sagas are also unique in that they better resemble medieval travel narratives than Íslendingasögur, due to their lack of focus on family feuds or Icelandic regional memory. Both sagas also feature strong female protagonists, making these among some of the most extraordinary sagas that survive today.
Where these sagas end is well known. Vinland is often thought to be located in Newfoundland, Canada, as attested by the archaeological evidence at L’anse aux meadows. However, the story had to begin somewhere. In Erik’s case, it is believed that the farm at Eiríksstaðir in the Dala County was his home. Visitors to this open-air museum will find a reconstructed farmstead based on the ruins of the original. The longhouse is the smallest longhouse excavated in Iceland. This is because it was Erik’s first farm house after getting married. It should be noted that this site is only open from April until October.
Thought to have been born at Eiríksstaðir, Leif Eriksson, or Leif the Lucky as he would later be called, is the explorer, according to the saga, who officially discovered America. A 20 minute drive away from Eiríksstaðir in Búðardalur, Vinlandssetur is a museum dedicated to Leif’s life and the exploits of those who were involved with finding the North American continent. It tells the Vinland Saga from beginning to end through an audio tour and wooden models.
An Outlaw and Monster Slayer
My own personal favourite saga is the Saga of Grettr the Strong. Anyone who is a fan of The Witcher series, Hercules or the Ghostbusters will feel right at home with this saga.
A later addition to the corpus, written in the 14th century, Grettis Saga follows the troubled outlaw Grettr Ásmundarson on his misadventures through the wild Icelandic landscape. Too wild and violent for society, Grettr is outlawed. The turning point in Grettr’s life comes when he faces a Draugr (undead) by the name of Glámr. With his last breath, Glámr curses Grettr to a life of loneliness, weakness, and a fear of the dark. Grettr continues his monster slaying outlaw career for some time after this event but it eventually catches up with him.
Grettr is said to have come from Bjarg in Miðfjörður, a place he would return to many times during his outlawry. Visitors to Bjarg will be able to seek out some of the key places from the saga such as Grettisták, a huge and heavy rock that Grettr was able to lift. A monument dedicated to Grettr, said to be where his head was buried, is also located at Bjarg.
Full outlawry in medieval Iceland meant that anyone could kill the outlaw with impunity. Grettr’s twenty year long stint as an outlaw is rather impressive when you consider the bloodthirsty society medieval Iceland was during his time. Being an outlaw usually meant having to leave Iceland, as Erik the Red did. The consequences of remaining in Iceland was felt by the ill-fated Gunnar Hámundarson in Njál’s saga. Grettr did both. But, ultimately ended up roaming the countryside of Iceland for most of his sentence. Eventually, he ended up on the island of Drangey where he would ultimately meet his end.
Today, travellers to the North of Iceland have the opportunity to take a boat tour to Drangey. The island is home to many wild birds including puffins. There is also a small hut dedicated to Grettr, and is said to be where he died.
Grettr chose Drangey as his hideout due to it being an impenetrable natural fortress. Only a single ladder gave access to the sheep island rising from the sea. Being such a remote and barren island, it was vital he, his brother Illugi and his slave Glaumur kept their fire going indefinitely. Unfortunately, the lazy slave Glaumur allowed the fire to go out. Grettr took it upon himself to swim back to the mainland to collect another fire. After a perilous 7km swim in the icy black North Atlantic waters, Grettr found a thermal pool to warm up. Amazingly, today, Icelandic people re-enact this feat of strength by swimming the 7km stretch during an annual event. The casual saga fan might prefer to relax in the geothermal pool named Grettir’s Pool in Grettislaug instead.
Following in the Footsteps of the Saga Heroes in Iceland
To follow in the footsteps of these saga heroes is to rediscover Iceland’s Viking past. Iceland is intimately connected with its roots. It has a proud tradition of preserving the records from the earliest settlement to the modern day. The saga sites in this article are only a handful of the locations the avid traveller can visit. The sagas of Icelanders span across the entire landscape so no matter where one finds themselves, a saga site can be uncovered. Where a saga site can be found, it is possible a great deed may have been done.
Below is a map showing a selection of smaller, lesser-known Saga sites to spot on your travels in Iceland. Here I have curated some of the more interesting and iconic place names for you to add to your itinerary so that you can see as many historical places as possible. Below the map is a list of the best saga sites mentioned in this article, with more information for each point of interest. For anyone interested in exploring Iceland via saga sites, see my 7-Day Self-Guided Saga Site Itinerary. Alternatively, you can use the map and list below to create your own itinerary – details can be found on the page How to Use this Website. You will need to register a user account, and be logged in before being able to use our itinerary builder.
Writing this article, I am indebted to the University of Iceland’s Saga Map. This is a public resource compiled by scholars and experts in the field. Although fully functional, the map is still being developed. It includes all potential sites, including many identified by 19th century travel writers. Not all have been checked and there may be errors.
Map of Saga Sites in Iceland
Must-See Saga Sites Mentioned on this Page
Bergþórshvoll
The ill-fated farmstead of saga hero Njál Þorgeirsson and Bergthóra Skarphéðinsdóttir of Njál’s Saga. The story revolves around a blood feud between Bergthóra and Hallgerði, wife of Gunnar Hámundarson. This feud manifests in the form of a back-and-forth revenge cycle of killings that ends in the death of Njál and his family. The site has undergone archaeological excavations on multiple occasions to find proof of the fire that killed Njál. Evidence of a burned barn dating to the Viking age, when this Saga is set, was found. Today it is marked by an information sign and a small turf structure.
Borg á Mýrum
The saga hero, Viking, and poet, Egill Skallagrimsson was born within this important region in settlement history. Skallagrim Kveldúlfsson, father of Egill and one of Iceland’s earliest settlers, claimed this land for his own. A church has stood here since 1002, but the current one was built in 1880 and dedicated to the Archangel Michael. It stands under a backdrop of beautiful mountains and farmland of which a hiking trail can be found. The altarpiece is an ornate painting by English artist WG Collingwood. A sculpture inspired by Egill’s Saga created by Ásmund Sveinsson was erected outside the church in 1985.
Drangey
An island off the north coast, known for being the final outpost of outlaw and monster slayer Grettir the Strong. Visitors can see the small hut dedicated to the final moments of Grettis life. The island is also home to numerous species of bird including the iconic puffin. The island is a remnant of a 700,000 year old volcano. Legend has it, however, that the island formed when a giant was turned to stone in the sunlight. Tours of and around the island are given by Drangey Tours during the summer months.
Eiríksstaðir - Eiriksstadir Viking Home
The Eiriksstadir Viking Home museum is a replica of a Viking turf house that was built next to the archaeological remains of the house of Eric the Red. And where his son, Leifr Eiriksson was born. From this part of Iceland the Vikings set sail westwards. Eric is thought to have been the first Viking to reach Greenland, while his son the first European to reach North America. Viking re-enactors guide visitors around the site showing them what life was like around 1,000 years ago.
Grettislaug - Hot Pool
One of Iceland’s legendary bathing spots of Saga fame. In the Saga of Grettir the Strong, Grettir swam 7.5km from the Island of Drangey to the mainland. To warm himself up, he bathed in this geothermal pool. Or so the story goes. Next to this pool is another, called Jarlspool. Both are accessible to the public. A small wall shelters the pool from the wind. Surrounded by mountains, the pool has expansive views out to sea, and Drangey. It is a 20 minute drive from the nearest town of Sauðárkrókur. There is also a campsite nearby.
Guðrúnarlaug Hot Spring
This pool is named after one of the most noteworthy female characters in all of the Icelandic Sagas, Guðrún Ósvífrsdóttir. She is the protagonist of amongst some of the best known Sagas, Laxdæla Saga. The love triangle between Kjartan, Bolli, and Guðrún began developing around this hot tub. This pool is also mentioned in the Sturlunga Sagas. The original pool was destroyed by a landslide 140 years ago. However, it was rebuilt in 2009 in the same style as the original. Now, the active geothermal pool can be visited and enjoyed for free. Next to the hot tub is a small Viking shed replica.
Helgafell
Also known as the Holy Mountain, this is one of the most sacred places in Saga history. In Eyrbyggja Saga, early settler, Þórólf Mostraskegg expressed his belief that when he died he would enter and remain in the mountain. This mountain is steeped in folklore. It is said that when walking to the top of the hill for the first time, do it without looking back or speaking and you will be granted three wishes. There are also the remnants of a wall at the top of the hill. This is dated to 1184 and was part of a monastery.
Keldur Turf Houses
Keldur, a historic settlement, is the location the largest turf farm in south Iceland. Parts of the central hall are thought to be from the oldest turf house still standing in Iceland. In the 12th and 13th century the settlement was inhabited by one of the most powerful clans of the time. Hence the size, the remains of 16 to 18 houses have been recorded. Much of what we see today was built in the 19th century. One of the unique features is an underground tunnel, built sometime in the 12th or 13th centuries at a time of conflict.
Reykholt
Although a small village with only 60 or so inhabitants, during the Middle Ages Reykholt was one of the most important centres of learning in Iceland. The poet and politician Snorri Sturluson lived here, today the Snorrastofa Cultural and Research Centre is a testament to his work on the Old Norse language and mythology. Besides the Snorrastof Museum, there are a number of interesting medieval points of interest scattered about the village. Popular geological attractions nearby include the Deildartunguhver hotsprings, the Hraunfossar laval falls and Barnafoss waterfall. Fosshotel is open year-round, making this a perfect base to explore Iceland’s geological and medieval history throughout the year.
Saga Museum
The Saga Museum tells the story of Iceland’s history from when settlers first arrived in the 800s through to the 1550s. Key points of this period, known as the Saga Age, are reconstructed in life-size dioramas. An audio-guided tour, available in a number of different languages, explains the displays. There are 17 in total, from the making of Iceland to the first inhabitants, from the lack Death to the Reformation. The tour concludes with a silent film on the museum’s creation by owner and artist Ernst Backman.
Skallagrim's burial mound
The burial mound of Skalla-Grímur Kveldúlfsson, father of saga hero Egil Skallagrimsson is located in an ornamental park in Borgarnes. A cairn and a stone tablet mark the entrance. Skallagrim was one of the first settlers, whose father died during the crossing to Iceland. His father’s coffin was cast into the sea and It is said where it washed ashore is where Skallagrim settled. Skallagrim died of an unknown disease in the 930s AD. A modern relief of a famous scene from Egil’s saga also ornaments the site. It depicts Egil bringing his drowned son from the sea on horseback.
The Commonwealth Farm
One of Iceland’s best kept secrets, Stöng farmstead is built on the ruins of a Viking settlement manor. This farmhouse is intricately reconstructed in the image experts believed it to have been like during the age of settlement. Nestled away in Iceland’s idyllic Þjórsárdalur valley, you can see the original stone foundations. Between 1974-1977 reconstructions of the turf farm houses were built as authentically as possible. Visitors are able to see how the original saga-age farm would have looked like in an open air museum style.
The Settlement Center
A small museum found in Borgarnes in the west of Iceland, on the ring road. The museum houses two exhibitions: the Age of Settlement and the Age of Sagas featuring the viking poet Egill Skalagrimsson. Each part takes approximately 30mins to see, the exhibit employs a multimedia approach through theatrical techniques and audio guides in 15 languages. It is located on a scenic coast with a nice view of the sea. A restaurant is located inside the oldest house in Borgarnes, dating to 1877 and offers traditional Icelandic food.
Thingvellir National Park
In 930 AD the Vikings established an open-air assembly or parliament, making this the world’s oldest Parliament. The assembly continued to meet here until 1798, before relocating to Reykjavik in 1844. Around the Þingvellir (Thingvellir) archaeologists have found the remains of human habitation from the 10th to the 19th century. Not only is Thingvellir a protected national site, it is situated with in the Thingvellir National Park, part of which is a listed UNESCO World Heritage Site (2004), in recognition of its archaeological and geological importance.
World in Word Manuscript Exhibition
This long awaited exhibition delves deep into the multifaceted world of the Icelandic manuscripts. These are the sources of the Sagas and Old Norse poetry. Displayed thematically to describe the worldview of the early Icelanders, some of the most important manuscripts are being showcased here. Housed at the University of Iceland and the Árni Magnússon Institute, this authoritative exhibition has been carefully curated by experts. This intimate look at some of the most precious artifacts Iceland has produced is a must see for historians and medievalists alike.
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Archaeology Travel Writer
